Moist Heat Drug Delivery Apparatus and Method

Abstract

A novel moist steam heating cabinet unit is used as a medical device for humidification, hydration and dispensing of medicinal Hot Packs. The technology provides multifunctional options for both medicinal and non medicinal hot pack treatment as well as for other applications and uses, for example—including creation, manufacturing and curing of pharmaceutical compounds that require a controlled steam process and method. A moist heating device is a unit designed and constructed to deliver a timed, heated fluidic steam coming from a moisture generating heating source. This moist heating by employing steam heat activates the therapeutic potential of a portable topical compress or hot pack wrap applicator, of various shapes and sizes, for transdermal use and neat applications of a “wet medicinal dressing.” The moisture provides the activating liquid and fluidic environment for the flowing through, titrating, and permeating delivery of drugs or medicaments held within a medicinal pack.

1 . A moist steam heat cabinet apparatus, comprising:
 a cabinet having a floor, sides, and an inner lining;   an electrically powered moist steam heat cabinet medical device provides a holding area and humid environment for controlled neat sterile moist steam heat hydration of a therapeutic non-medicinal -and medicinal pack, said moist heat cabinet having a multiple arrangement of steam spray nozzles around said sides and floor of said inner lining of said cabinet, said cabinet being of various shapes and sizes, said device delivering moist heat to prepare hot packs/stupes/fomentation until a sufficient amount of moist heat is contained in the pack/stupe at a correct temperature and is ready for topical dispensing to a mammalian or human body part.   
     
     
         2 . A moist steam heat cabinet apparatus as in  claim 1 , having controlled temperature exhibited on a display temperature control heating display board, said controlled temperature being pre-determined according to the drug's susceptibility and ability to be optimally activated thermally and delivered transdermally, said controlled temperature exhibition alerting a practitioner of pack temperature within said cabinet. 
     
     
         3 . A moist steam heat cabinet apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein a controlled spray mist of water fluid hydrates drug delivery packs with a multiple mini-series of aligned jets along the length of the pack, wherein spray jets on the side walls are designed to deliver exact amounts of heat moisture “with a spray mist ejection” to allow the total areas of the pack to become hydrated and heated to the desired temperature without loss or over-leaching out of the drug contents. 
     
     
         4 . A moist steam heat cabinet apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising a sliding shelf or tray with levels and horizontal rows of open spaced water permeable holding shelves for the holding and storage of the packs. 
     
     
         5 . A moist steam heat cabinet apparatus as in  claim 4 , wherein the sliding shelf or tray comprises an ejectable sliding shelf or tray that can be optionally removed manually with pre-manufactured handles for easy removal of the shelf or tray while holding/dispensing of its contents. 
     
     
         6 . A moist steam heat cabinet apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising an electronic indicator that indicates that the drug delivery packs within said cabinet and placed on the shelf or tray are ready for use. 
     
     
         7 . A moist steam heat cabinet apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the spray jets provide the appropriate timed moisture for each pack placed in the cabinet placed in rows horizontally, obliquely, or vertically. 
     
     
         8 . A moist steam heat cabinet apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein subdivided placement of the packs arranged individually in rows allows moisture to slowly titrate to the packs without loss of their contents. 
     
     
         9 . A moist steam heat cabinet apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is self-cleaning. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A moist steam heat cabinet apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is portable for home use or is a stationary console for office use. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A moist steam heat cabinet apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a specific spray mist setting for regular hydrocollator packs. 
     
     
         15 . A moist steam heat cabinet apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a specific spray mist setting for medicinal packs. 
     
     
         16 . A moist steam heat cabinet apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a specific temperature for hydrocollator packs 
     
     
         17 . A moist steam heat cabinet apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a specific temperature for medicinal packs according to the drug employed. 
     
     
         18 . A moist steam heat cabinet apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein transport and permeation of drugs are accomplished by at least one of gravity, vacuum pressure, and iontophoresis. 
     
     
         19 . A moist steam heat cabinet apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising a portable, removable moist heating pad that that creates steam and that is placed on top of a pack, the pad for alternate transfer from the apparatus and placement for direct contact on the human skin or over a medicinal or non-medicinal pack, to maintain continuous steam heat to a medicinal or non-medicinal hot pack, the pad comprising latches to hold a pack securely below the pad to allow clean and neat placement of the device with the pack to a patient. 
     
     
         20 . A moist steam heat cabinet apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the pack is used with FDA approved electrotherapy generators that provide direct and galvanic currents to produce Iontophoresis, electroporation, and electrophoretic treatments. 
     
     
         21 . A moist steam heat cabinet apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising a clam-shell or strapping method to hold a pack, stupe, or fomentation in place for easy, stable usage and placement. 
     
     
         22 . A moist steam heat cabinet apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising an electric moist heating pad accessory device that provides moist steam heating currents to electrodes that contact with an aqueous solution for physiotherapy or iontophoresis treatment. 
     
     
         23 . A moist steam heat cabinet apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the portable moist heat system is applied to a skin surface of a human user, and wherein the human skin maintains a temperature of less than about 43 degrees Celsius during the transfer of moist heat. 
     
     
         23 . A moist steam heat cabinet apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus produces steam hydration with a temperature ranging from 20-200 degrees Fahrenheit.